Carbon 14 Dating Meaning. Because the ratio of carbon 12 to carbon 14 present in all living organisms is the same, and because the decay rate of carbon 14 is constant, the length of time that has passed since an organism has died can be calculated by comparing. This half life is a relatively small number, which means that carbon 14 dating is not particularly helpful for very recent deaths and deaths more than 50,000 years ago.

A technique for measuring the age of organic remains based on the rate of decay of carbon 14. It is, in fact, leading to the “reconstruction of the history of the world”. In this article i hope to explain the theoretical and physical science behind carbon dating, and discuss how it affects our lives and the validity of the process.

During this process (called “beta decay”) a neutron in the 14 c atom will be converted into a proton.

Ever wonder what “carbon dating” means and why it is so important? In this article i hope to explain the theoretical and physical science behind carbon dating, and discuss how it affects our lives and the validity of the process. This half life is a relatively small number, which means that carbon 14 dating is not particularly helpful for very recent deaths and deaths more than 50,000 years ago. It is used in dating things such as bone, cloth, wood and plant fibers that were created in the relatively recent past by human activities.